How Competitive am I?

[egreene80]

Hi everyone I know this is kind of late to ask as a senior right about now, but I guess it's better done late than never. I have a nomination interview tomorrow and so I decided to look through the forums a a bit today and after seeing some other peoples posts, I've come to the realization that there's a lot of people who seem more competitive than me. So, I want to hear what people think about my profile.

Academics:
4.0 GPA with college-level and AP classes
Ranked 18th out of 150
1250 SAT score (taking it one more time this weekend)

Leadership and Extracurriculars:
Most of my leadership ties in with my athletics. I've suffered a season ending injury early on in both my sophomore and junior years, yet I still attended practices to help and volunteer

Currently two letters in Wrestling
Don't know if this does anything but I was JV captain as a sophomore who couldn't even play
1 Varsity football captain
Offseason football lifting captain
NHS Member (No elections have occurred due to COVID)
Band and Jazz Band member
~200 volunteer hours
(Don't know if being accepted to go to boys state means anything, but it got cancelled due to COVID after I was accepted to go)

CFA Scores
Pushups: 72
Sit Ups: 62
Pullups: 10
Shuttle: 9.6s
Mile: 7:30
BB Throw: 81 feet


Please be honest with me about how things look. I know I'm definitely lacking in some areas so I wont take any offense to any criticism. Thank you

 

[HowBoutThemApples]

You are competitive my friend. But you will hear “nobody can tell you your chances” and that’s true: it’s completely based off your competition within your congressional district. Let’s say the other candidates that receive a nomination from the same congressperson as you all have lower test scores, GPA, ECs, etc. Then you have a very high chance of being admitted. If the candidates on your nomination slate have 1500 SATs, 4.3 GPAs, recruited athletes, etc.... then your chances are slim. I have a very similar profile as you(higher sat, but lower class rank), and I couldn’t tell you what our chances are.
We have no idea how your slate and my slate turns out. We can only pray!

Good Luck.

 

[Heatherg21]

First, don't have a 'am I competitive' weighing on your mind prior to an interview. USMA is looking for qualified candidates. There will be some with stronger resumes then yours. And there will be some who have lower scores then yours, with less leadership.

Your CFA looks pretty good, if you can get the shuttle time and mile down, I would say that would be good.

For today, focus on reviewing your resume, making sure your wardrobe is in ship shape condition. If it is a virtual interview, run trial runs on location of computer and tech. Review why you applied to USMA and why you think you can bring something to the table and what career path you might succeed in.

Be confident. Not cocky. Make the most of the time you have. Make eye contact, convey who you are to the panel. Don't leave them wondering who you are, they need to know something personal about you. Resumes are great, everyone can look stellar on paper. Now make them remember you, in a good way. Be authentic and honest. That was the advice a West Point faux interview panel gave our son after his mock interview (parent club put it on). He earned an appointment.

Good luck to you, control what you can, look forward.

 

[MCA]

While it's good to see where others place, you don't need to compare yourself to others. Some people get into the academy with a 1600 SAT and others get in with a 1240. Your stats may be an indicator of who you are, but by no means should they be something that you are worrying about. How others perform shouldn't discourage you and make you think that you are "not good enough" or "not cut out". You are yourself. Your scores are a testament to what you are capable of and the things you have accomplished.

The academy looks for applicants from all ranges of background, experience, test scores, extra-curricular activities, and physical performance. But more imporatantly they look at the person BEYOND the stats. They look at your essays, remarks from your FFR. They want to grasp the whole person concept of you. You said in your original post "people who seem more competitive than me." You don't know if they are or are not. No one does.

Throughout my application, I never worried about how others perfumed because I was focused on myself. It is a lot less stressful and gives you self-confidence that is an important trait in any leader. No-one can tell you whether or not what you have done is "good enough". Only the academy will determine that.

My recommendation is to finish strong. Absolutely ace the interview that you have coming up and recognize that you have the potential and willingness to attend one of the most prestigious institutions in America. Don't worry about what others have done, what their scores are, or how you compare to them. I know you are anxious and nervous, I am going through the same thing. But remember that what you have done is the best that you could do.

This is just my recommendation and how I have gotten through the application process.

I hope this helps.

 

[usma84]

You have a competitive profile, so do a great job in the interview and your SAT re-take. Agree with the comment about CFA looks good, but shuttle and mile run would be good to improve (and make sure those pullups and pushups are good form-wise!). Good leadership and sports certainly help you as well. Some will be more competitive on paper - that's life. You can only focus on what's in front of you. So, do your best and always have a backup plan. And if this is truly your passion/goal but doesn't work out this year, an option would be to re-apply after a year at a 4 year school while taking STEM type freshman courses (and doing well!).

 

[egreene80]

You have a competitive profile, so do a great job in the interview and your SAT re-take. Agree with the comment about CFA looks good, but shuttle and mile run would be good to improve (and make sure those pullups and pushups are good form-wise!). Good leadership and sports certainly help you as well. Some will be more competitive on paper - that's life. You can only focus on what's in front of you. So, do your best and always have a backup plan. And if this is truly your passion/goal but doesn't work out this year, an option would be to re-apply after a year at a 4 year school while taking STEM type freshman courses (and doing well!).

While it's good to see where others place, you don't need to compare yourself to others. Some people get into the academy with a 1600 SAT and others get in with a 1240. Your stats may be an indicator of who you are, but by no means should they be something that you are worrying about. How others perform shouldn't discourage you and make you think that you are "not good enough" or "not cut out". You are yourself. Your scores are a testament to what you are capable of and the things you have accomplished.

The academy looks for applicants from all ranges of background, experience, test scores, extra-curricular activities, and physical performance. But more imporatantly they look at the person BEYOND the stats. They look at your essays, remarks from your FFR. They want to grasp the whole person concept of you. You said in your original post "people who seem more competitive than me." You don't know if they are or are not. No one does.

Throughout my application, I never worried about how others perfumed because I was focused on myself. It is a lot less stressful and gives you self-confidence that is an important trait in any leader. No-one can tell you whether or not what you have done is "good enough". Only the academy will determine that.

My recommendation is to finish strong. Absolutely ace the interview that you have coming up and recognize that you have the potential and willingness to attend one of the most prestigious institutions in America. Don't worry about what others have done, what their scores are, or how you compare to them. I know you are anxious and nervous, I am going through the same thing. But remember that what you have done is the best that you could do.

This is just my recommendation and how I have gotten through the application process.

I hope this helps.

You are competitive my friend. But you will hear “nobody can tell you your chances” and that’s true: it’s completely based off your competition within your congressional district. Let’s say the other candidates that receive a nomination from the same congressperson as you all have lower test scores, GPA, ECs, etc. Then you have a very high chance of being admitted. If the candidates on your nomination slate have 1500 SATs, 4.3 GPAs, recruited athletes, etc.... then your chances are slim. I have a very similar profile as you(higher sat, but lower class rank), and I couldn’t tell you what our chances are.
We have no idea how your slate and my slate turns out. We can only pray!

Good Luck.

First, don't have a 'am I competitive' weighing on your mind prior to an interview. USMA is looking for qualified candidates. There will be some with stronger resumes then yours. And there will be some who have lower scores then yours, with less leadership.

Your CFA looks pretty good, if you can get the shuttle time and mile down, I would say that would be good.

For today, focus on reviewing your resume, making sure your wardrobe is in ship shape condition. If it is a virtual interview, run trial runs on location of computer and tech. Review why you applied to USMA and why you think you can bring something to the table and what career path you might succeed in.

Be confident. Not cocky. Make the most of the time you have. Make eye contact, convey who you are to the panel. Don't leave them wondering who you are, they need to know something personal about you. Resumes are great, everyone can look stellar on paper. Now make them remember you, in a good way. Be authentic and honest. That was the advice a West Point faux interview panel gave our son after his mock interview (parent club put it on). He earned an appointment.

Good luck to you, control what you can, look forward.

I just wanna say thank you all for the reply's, this definitely is a lot of good info.